Masks - we all wear them. It is an integral part of human nature
to construct different facades in order to blend into a crowd--or
to protect us from hurts and betrayals inherent to social
relationships.

Such guises are psychological protection--differentiating us from
the animal kingdom, whose armor takes the form of physical
attributes--claws, horns, stingers and shells.

Despite the savagery elemental to our own species, the most
catastrophic violence is that which takes its toll on our psyche.

Kane, who has been judged by Federation Superstars and fans alike
as developmentally challenged or as a sociopath, hides behind a
mask of red and black. However, as time has revealed, he is not a
monster dwelling behind his shield--he is a man. The only valid
difference between Kane and the rest of us is that his mask just
happens to be visible.

Tragic--that is the word that best describes the life Kane has
led. From witnessing the fiery death of his mother, which also
scarred him, Kane spent his youth locked away in a dark dungeon,
isolated from the world--his own father, Paul Bearer, holding the
keys.

Kane's time in the Federation has also been composed of a series
of hurts and betrayals. From enduring manipulative and evil games
orchestrated by his father and half-brother, Kane also learned of
the harsh reality that it was the Undertaker who had purposely
set the fatal fire years ago.

Federation owner Vince McMahon turned on him, as well, committing
the Big Red Machine to an institution for the mentally unsound.
And to finish off the path of betrayal, Chyna led Kane on, only
to stab him in the back at WrestleMania.

However, Kane's relationship with X-Pac has taken a different
route. He and X-Pac have seemingly developed camaraderie based on
trust and affinity.However, what is significant about their
alliance is what it has exposed about the man behind the mask,
allowing the world to catch a glimpse of who Kane really is.

Kane is not a monster lurking behind the plate of red that hides
his face. Rather, he is a human being in the truest sense.
Perhaps childlike in his display of raw emotion, Kane is
extremely sensitive and loyal.

But he is also mature in the face that he is able to express it.
Some have argued that X-Pac "gave" Kane his heart--but
the truth is that X-Pac's own demonstration of loyalty merely
guided Kane to find what was always there inside of him.

Kane has taken tremendous steps this past year--he has spoken for
the first time without his voice box and has defied the
manipulative ways of Undertaker. Kane has stood on his own two
feet, demonstrating courage and character--the most noble of
human attributes. However, there is one more step Kane needs to
take before he can fully come into his own--before the rest of
the world will ever be convinced of his full humanity--that is to
take off the mask.

Behind the mask we will not find a monster. No, we will find a
man who has been able to overcome a tragic life--a man to whom
all of us can look for inspiration.

But until he takes that final step he will remain trapped by the
prison he has been cast into, for the fortress around his heart
and soul will eventually cave in, crushing the life out of him.

Yes, Kane could turn into his worst enemy. However, a question
remains--is there anything that could drive Kane back into his
shell, never to surface again? He has tasted the bitter seed of
the worst betrayals yet has survived--some could argue,
prevailed.

But perhaps the one thing left to make or break the Big Red
Machine is love.

The most powerful and compelling of emotions, love has the
ability to move mountains--or destroy them. It can be the cause
of the most tortuous, heart-wrenching sorrow. Yes, love just may
be the key to unmasking Kane--or locking him away for the rest of
his life...

Kane's mask is the embodiment of years and years of betrayal by
the hands of those he should have been able to trust. But when
that mask comes off--watch out world. Not because we will find a
monster underneath, but because we will find--perhaps for the
first time ever--a real man.